feank southack



(No Model.)

C. P. SOUTHAGK.

REED CHAMBER. No. 346,177. Patented July 27, 1886.

Wzltnesses Nv PETERS. Phewmhognpmr, wnhmgwn. 11C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

O. FRANK SOUTHAOK, OF CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEAHALF TO NATHAN O. LOMBARD, OF SAME` PLACE.

REED-CHAMBER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 346,177, dated July 27, 1886.

Application tiled Noremliert), 1S'S3. Serial No, 111,377.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, C. FRANK. SOUTHACK, of Oambridgcport, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reed-Chambers for Musical Instruments, of which the following, taken in connection with the aecompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the manufacture of reed-organs and simiro lar instruments it is usual to form the reedchambers or cells containing the reeds from a solid strip of wood by cutting away the surplus portions thereof by the aid of suitable tools and machinery, and then gluing the strip containing the cells thus formed to or upon the reed-board proper. In climates or localities where the air is moist the glue in the joints of the wood is apt to become softened by this moisture, and allow said joints to sepa- 2o rate or be forced apart by the pressure of the wind or air when the instrumentis in use,thus producing` leakage or the air and impairing the quality el' the instrument. It thus happens that the separation of the joints allows 2 5 more or less air to pass from one to another of the reed-chambers and effects a partial communication ol' two or three adjacent chambers, so that when a single key is pressed to sound a certain note two or three of the adjacent 3o reeds may also be caused to sound, producing discord, the perfection of the instrument being seriously injured.

rilhe object of my present invention is to obviate the above difficulty and produce areed- 3 5 chamber so constructed as to be easily adjusted and secured upon the reed-board and adapted to be readily removed therefrom at any time for cleaning or repairs; and it consists in forming a reed-chamber of sheet metal 4o adapted to cover and inelose the reed, and provided at its lower edges with a dovetail fitted to and adapted to enter a similar-shaped groove in the reed-board, and also arranged to receive and hold the reed, as will be `further described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a partial section cutting transversely through several reeds and reed-chambers and a portion of the reedboard. Fig. 2 is a section at right angles to the above, cutting longitudinally through two 5o reed-chambers; and Fig. 8 is asection similar to Fig. l, illustrating` a modified form of the reed-chambers.

Each of the reed-chambers A, Figs. l and 2, is made of sheet metal bent to the shape shown, with its lower edges so shaped aste accurately fit a dovetailed groove Ytermed in the reed-board B, and receive a reed, O, of the usual construction, thechamber A being readily placed iu position by sliding it endwise into the groove in the reed-board, while the 6o reed may in the same manner be-inserted within the chamber A. The shape of the reedchambers, as seen in cross-section, may be varied according to the quality of the tone it is desired to produce-as, forinstanee, they may 65 be made with a square top, as at u, Fig. l, with a rounded top, as at b, or of au oval shape with bulging sides, as at c.

The reed-chambers may be formed with open ends adapted, when in position on the 7o reed-board, to be opened or closed by means of the stop-valves C' and D, Fig. 2, in a wellknown manner, the valve O being hinged at d to a bar, E, while the valve D is hinged at c to a strip, F, secured by screws or otherwise to the reed-board B.

Then a stop-valve is designed to be used upon one end only ofthe reed-chambers, as at G, Fig. 2, each chamber maybe made with one closed end,f, formed by bending down the 8o sheet metal from which the reed-chamber is formed, or, if desired, by securing therein a piece of wood of suitable shape.

The ends of the reedchambers may be brought into proper line and their position gaged by means of the strips F er il, which come in contact with the ends of the reedchambers, and which act as stops when said reed-chambers are slid into position in their grooves.

rlhe reed-board is provided with the usual openings, g, beneath the reeds for the passage of the air, and the outer ends of the reeds are made to rest upon pieces of felt, 71., in the usual manner, to prevent the air from entering beneath said reeds.

The shape and size of the devctail at the lower edges of the reed-chambers may be varied to lit the edges of the' particular style ol reed which it may be desired to use, the edges roo 5/of sheet metal, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the

' chambers being secured to the reed-board by means of small screws or tacks, t', passing through the narrow horizontal portions of the metal between the chambers A, strips of leather, lc, being placed beneath said narrow portions to make the joints tight, while the reeds C are inserted in place in the same manner as before described.

By the use of my present invention the bad results arising from the separation of glued joints are entirely obviated, while the reedchambers, together with the reeds, may be readily placed in their required position and as readily removed for inspection, cleaning,

2o or repairs.

In forming the reed-chambers in a solid strip of wood in the manner heretofore practiced a considerable stock is necessarily wasted. By my invention this Waste is prevented, and the operation of gluing is dispensed with, while the labor-of grooving and finishing the wood-work is greatly reduced. The stop-valves C', D, or G are rendered less liable to leakage, as the thin edges of the reed- 3C chambers will sink slightly into the leather faeings of said valves, thus making a tighter joint or closure than when the valves rest against the broader edges of the Wooden reedchambers.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a reed musical instrument, the combination of a plain reed or sounding board, provided with wind-passages and grooves to receive the reed-blocks, and a series of independent cells or reed-chambers made of sheet metal,removably secured directly to said reed or sounding board independent of the reedblock or additional wood-work, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A reed-board for musical instruments, having one or more dovetailed grooves formed therein, in combination with one or more reedchambers made of sheet metal, and provided u with dovetails at their lower edges, adapted to t the grooves in said reed-board and to inclose the reeds, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speeicatiomin the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 2d day of November, A. D. 1883.

` C. I". SOUTHACK.

Witnesses:

N. C. LOMBARD, WALTER E.l LOMBARD. 

